Body camera footage reveals New Jersey Democrat Rep. LaMonica McIver physically shoving an ICE agent as she and two other Democrat lawmakers stormed a detention facility housing MS-13 gang members, sparking Republican calls to strip them of committee assignments.
Key Takeaways
- Three Democrat lawmakers from New Jersey forcibly entered an ICE detention facility in Newark during a politically charged protest demanding its closure.
- Body camera footage reportedly shows Rep. LaMonica McIver physically assaulting an ICE agent during the confrontation.
- The Department of Homeland Security condemned the action as a dangerous political stunt that put law enforcement and detainees at risk.
- Republican Rep. Buddy Carter introduced a resolution to strip the three Democrats of their committee assignments.
- The facility houses criminal illegal migrants, including members of MS-13 and other dangerous gangs.
Democrats Force Entry Into ICE Facility
Three New Jersey Democrats—Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman, Robert Menendez Jr., and LaMonica McIver—stormed the Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark last week, creating a chaotic scene that has since sparked serious political backlash. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka joined the lawmakers in their protest, which aimed to force the closure of the detention facility. The confrontation escalated rapidly when McIver was caught on camera aggressively pushing past ICE agents while attempting to enter the secured facility, which houses dangerous illegal migrants with criminal records.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) immediately condemned the lawmakers’ actions in the strongest possible terms. The Democrats insisted they were exercising their constitutional duty to conduct oversight of federal facilities without prior notice. However, DHS officials countered that there are established procedures for congressional visits that the representatives deliberately ignored, choosing instead to create a public spectacle that endangered both law enforcement personnel and detainees.
DHS Condemns “Bizarre Political Stunt”
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin didn’t mince words when discussing the incident, describing it as a reckless political performance that put lives at risk. The department revealed that Mayor Baraka was arrested for trespassing during the protest, while the three congressional representatives narrowly avoided the same fate despite their aggressive actions. DHS officials also confirmed that body camera footage documented the entire confrontation, including what appears to be assault on federal officers.
“These members of Congress storming into a detention facility goes beyond a bizarre political stunt and puts the safety of our law enforcement agents and the detainees at risk,” stated DHS.
The DHS further emphasized that normal channels existed for congressional oversight that would have avoided the confrontation entirely. Members of Congress are not above the law and cannot illegally break into detention facilities. Had these members requested a tour, we would have facilitated a tour of the facility, the department stated. This pointed rebuke directly contradicts claims from the Democrats that they were simply trying to perform their constitutional duties.
Republicans Move to Strip Committee Assignments
Georgia Republican Buddy Carter has introduced a formal resolution to strip the three Democrats of their committee assignments as punishment for their actions. The resolution specifically targets Coleman’s position on the Appropriations Committee, Menendez’s seats on Financial Services and Transportation, and McIver’s spots on Agriculture and Education & Workforce committees. Carter’s measure frames the incident as an assault on law enforcement and a dangerous precedent that undermines congressional norms.
“The radical left has lost their minds – they would rather raid an ICE facility to defend criminal illegal immigrants than represent their own constituents,” said Carter.
The resolution has put Democrats in a difficult position. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has drawn what he calls a red line, warning that arresting members of Congress would represent a dangerous escalation. Meanwhile, the lawmakers involved have attempted to shift blame, with Rep. Menendez claiming that immigration officials escalated the confrontation. This defense rings hollow given the video evidence showing McIver physically pushing ICE agents who were simply doing their jobs.
Facility Houses Dangerous Criminal Migrants
Lost in the political theater is the serious nature of the detention facility itself. The Delaney Hall Detention Center houses illegal migrants with significant criminal backgrounds, including confirmed members of MS-13 and the Dominicans Don’t Play gang. DHS officials denied claims by the Democratic representatives that the facility lacks proper permits, pointing out that these lawmakers were essentially advocating for the release of dangerous criminals into American communities.
The incident perfectly illustrates the priorities of the radical left—defending illegal immigrants with violent criminal records while showing blatant disrespect for American law enforcement. As video evidence continues to emerge and the resolution moves forward in Congress, this controversy highlights a fundamental divide in how the two parties view immigration enforcement and the rule of law in President Trump’s America.
